2008 Match Reports
Cairnlea 1 - 3 Moreland City: 19 April
Coaches Report: First Team Round 6
Ballarat Red Devils 2 - 2 Moreland City: 10 May, 2008
Moreland secured a hard-fought point after drawing 2-2 away to the Ballarat Red Devils.
City took the lead after just 6 minutes through Adrian Mathers, who struck form outside the box a shot that dipped and swerved past the keeper. The Red Devils responded however and took advantage of hesitation through City's ranks by scoring twice through Shaun Romein, his second an expertly taken free kick that left Jan rooted to his line.
Second half saw City push for an equaliser and they eventually got their just reward through a spectacular volley from substitute Aaron Muzzaferovic.
The last 15 minutes of the match was end to end stuff with both sides pushing for an equaliser. The Red Devils had a couple of good opportunities late on but could not capitalise as Moreland held on for the final minutes with 10 men to share the spoils.
Mo says: "Sound effort by Moreland Saturday away to Ballarat at a ground that will be difficult for away teams to get results. In the end a draw was perhaps a fair result". 
North Geelong 1 - 2 Moreland City: 5 April
Cavoli, Chapman
Best: Marcen, Gourzelas, Donnelly
The ressies started a new era under coach Rob Martello with a strong away win in Lara. The boys started well, and had chances from the start, and controversially went in front after Cavoli headed in a neat cross veteran Rob Marcen. Nth Geelong appealed as they thought the ball cut back from Marcen had crossed the by-line, but the referee had none of it, and Moreland were 1-0 up. The goal seemed to steel Nth Geelong who had a purple patch and scored soon after Gourzelas was left one on one with the keeper to tie the scores at 1-1 at half time.
After the break Moreland looked the only team likely to score. The best passage of play for the match was when Cavoli, Chapman & Carson unlocked the Nth Geelong defence with outstanding one touch football on the edge of the are, but Cavoli failed to connect properly and the ball was turned away for a corner. But MCFC were not to be denied as Marcen dispossessed the sweeper deep and went on to round the keeper. His touch took him wide but Chapman was hand to sweep home what proved to be the winner.
Gourzelas was required to keep out North Geelong following a late charge, but MCFC held on for 3 points.
Brunswick City 0 - 2 Moreland City: 12 April
Luchetti, Cavoli
Best: Carson, Gonzalez, Ward, Pegorin
The ressies won their second game in a row with another commanding performance. Two second half headed goals from first Luchetti and later Cavoli sealed the win. MCFC struggled to settle early against the predictable and ugly long ball game executed by the side in blue. But despite often finding themselves behind, Brunswick never really threatened. The Moreland central defence was sent further into chaos when first Vale,and soon after Donnelly were both substituted due to injury. Pegorin moved into the centre along side 1st sub Ward, and 2nd sub Birch came on into an unfamiliar left back role. But Moreland soon settled and started to actually play. The best chance of a forgettable first half came after a sweeping move from the back involving Ward, Paterson & Carson who laid on Cavoli who was expertly denied by a reflex save from the Brunswick keeper.
After the break it was all Moreland. Carsons long throw early in the half was held up by Cavoli who laid it back to Carson who worked hard to follow up. His first time cross was met perfectly at the back post by Luchetti who scored his first goal of the season. Brunswick pressured Moreland briefly after the goal, but found in form Gourzelas hard to beat between the sticks. The game was over soon after when Chapman lobbed a cross to the back post for Cavoli to score. From there the score could have been anything with Chapman, Paterson, Carson & Gonzalez all coming close to adding to the score.
Cairnlea 1 - 5 Moreland City: 19 April
Cavoli 2, Marcen, Carson, Stephenson
Best: Gourzelas, Birch, Marcen, Pegorin,
Chapman
Moreland punished a wasteful
Cairnlea side in Melbourne's west with an efficient performance. But it looked
shaky early with Cairnlea having the best of the play, and should have scored
after Ward conceded a penalty after a swift Cairnlea break. But Gourzelas saved
what can only be described as a horrible spot kick. And this seemed to turn the
game. Moments later a Gourzelas kick was flicked on by Carson to Cavoli who was
fouled on the edge of the area. Cavoli's right footed free kick rebounded off
the wall, but his left footed rebound found the net after the keeper made a
complete gaff of what was only a half timed shot. Soon after Stephenson,
playing in a more central role, released veteran Marcen who drove the ball into
the roof of the net to make it two, and from then on it was Morelands game, and
the Cairnlea side lost concentration. Marcen should have had two when released
by Carson from a long throw but lifted his lob over the bar.
Moreland continue to dominate in the second
half creating good opportunities but failing to deliver with the final ball.
The game was finally killed off when Carson's excellent cross from the right
was met on the volley by Cavoli. His shot was parried straight into the path of
an on rushing Stephenson who launched the ball high into the back of the net.
Carson then got one of his own cheaply before another long throw cleared the
pack for Cavoli score his second. In between those two a lapse by the Moreland
defence allowed Cairnlea to score cheaply and deny Gourzelas a deserves clean
sheet.
Altona City 4 - 0 Moreland City: 25 April
Best: Stephenson, Gourzelas
Moreland turned up for 70 out of the 90
minutes as Altona ran rampant in 20 minutes of madness at the start of the
second half. The first was dominated by Moreland with Cavoli having chances and
Carson striking the bar from distance. Chapman & Marcen looked dangerous as
Moreland looked dangerous with some well worked moves. And at 0-0 at the break
the boys were entitled to feel that a good second half who would yield the right
result.
But a series of errors at
the start of the second half led to three goals in 15 minutes. A shell shocked
Moreland was snapped into action, launching numerous attacks but all came to no
avail. To add insult to injury, Altona bagged a fourth on the break after a
poor corner by Cavoli.
Moreland City 3 - 1 Werribee City: 3 May
Best: Gourzelas, Stephenson, Cavoli
Morelands first home game of the season was
held at rival's home ground Pascoe Vale as Campbell Reserve continues to
recover. Moreland were pushed early. Gourzelas was solid again and had to be
as Werribee piled on the pressure early, striking the woodwork from a ferocious
volley from the edge of the area. But a good team takes their chances and
Moreland proved to be a good team. After holding off the charge, Ward delivered
a long diagonal ball into the area which wasn't properly dealt with. Cavoli
pounced with a lobbed 'biscuit tin' header that looped over the hesitant keeper
to make it 1-0. Cavoli doubled the advantage soon after when good interplay
from Stephenson, Carson and finally Luchetti lead to Cavoli volleying home from
close range. Just before half time Cavoli completed his hatrick. Again neat
work down the right from Carson and then a cross from Stephenson was controlled
by the striker who's volley lobbed the helpless keeper to make it 3-0 half
time.
Moreland had chances to
increase the advantage through Carson, Cavoli & Pegorin, but in the end
Werribee scored a deserved consolation after Paterson was caught in possession
with numbers committed forward.
Coaches Report: 2007 Season
What a season 2007 was!
Stage three water restrictions and league restructurings really threw out the challenge from day one. With only one team to gain promotion to division one and three teams relegated to division three, it was evident through the pre-season that all clubs were spending big to compete for that one spot or, at least, stay out of relegation. Combine that with the fact that we had nowhere to train during pre-season and could not access our hallowed Campbell Reserve for home games until round 10, 2007 was always going to be challenging for a club like ours.
Highlights, however, were plentiful:
- Undefeated against Pascoe Vale, Werribee, Altona East and Sunbury
- A masterful display against Williamstown in round 10
- Our first game at Campbell Reserve
- Comebacks from 2-0 down against Altona City and Sunbury to draw 2-2
- The 3-2 victory at Altona East
- The 1-0 win in our mini grand final against Sunbury in Round 22
- 10 clean sheets for the season
- A tribunal decision to die for.
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